Dearica Hamby speaks for all basketball fans with WNBA Finals complaint

Dearica Hamby has called on the WNBA to extend the Finals to a seven-game series with the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx tied heading into the final fixture.

The Lynx sent the 2024 WNBA Finals to a fifth and final game with an 82-80 win over the Liberty , with three of the games in the series being won by the finest of margins. The NBA playoffs from start to finish allow up to seven games and Los Angeles Sparks star Hamby says the WNBA should've brought the change a season sooner.

The WNBA will move to a best-of-seven series in the WNBA Finals from the 2025 campaign. "Ugh… @WNBA …… the 7 games can go in effect now. We not trippin fr," Hamby said on X. Fans were in agreement with Hamby. "Always wondered how the ladies felt about these short series," one said. "Wish this series would never end!" another added.

"Why stop at 7? 3 of 4 games have come down to the final play! A logo 3 at the buzzer. Massive comebacks. We have had it all!" a third tweeted.

• Paige Bueckers 'stalked and harassed' as man, 40, arrested by cops
• Dawn Staley aims thinly-veiled dig at WNBA officials after last-gasp Finals drama

The move to increase the WBA Finals to the potential of seven games was announced by Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in Oct. “This will give our fans a championship series format that they are accustomed to seeing in other sports,” she said.

It's been a record-breaking year for the WNBA, following the introduction of star rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Both, who were rivals in their college days at Iowa and LSU, have shattered records and were named a WNBA All-Star in their rookie campaigns.

“Culmination in most transformational year in WNBA’s history,” Engelbert said. “Put it in perspective with a few stats that bring insight into what happened. WNBA outpaced the industry in live games in 2024. Fans watched 30% more on average of each WNBA game in the regular season. games reached 54 million viewers in regular season.”

Kayla McBride, who led the Lynx with 19 points, says the Lynx are ready to go to war. “Last 40 minutes of the season could be anywhere, we’re going to be out there going to war and I’m pumped,” she said.

“I think we’re excited,” Napheesa Collier added. “It’s a Game 5 of the finals. We have to go out and execute.”

The fifth and final game of the series is scheduled for Sunday night in New York. The Lynx caused an upset inside the Barclays Center in Game 1 and will look to repeat.